Twine-cutter



C. E. HEMPEL.

IWINE CUTTER. APPLICATION FILED mus. 1918.

1,324,672. Patented Dec..9,1919.

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CARL EDWARD HEMPEL, 0F PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

TWINE-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

Application filed. January 23, 1918. Serial No. 213,430.

To all whom it may concern."

Be it known that I, CARL E. HEMPEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Twine-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in twine or thread cutters, the object of the invention being to provide an improved device of this character which is so constructed as to enable it to be worn on the forefinger of the left-hand, and so that it will not interfere with the use of the hand in tying and securing a package, and which embodies a blade which is normally withdrawn so that danger of cutting the user is obviated, and also embodies means to enable the blade to be instantaneously and easily projected for use in cutting a thread or twine, the invention consisting in the construction, combination and arrangement of devices hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a twine cutter constructed in accordance with my invention and showing the same in use and with the blade projected.

Fig. 2 is an elevationof the same, partly in section, with the blade in its normal, retracted position.

Fig- 3 is a detailed sectional view on the plane indicated by the line 33 of Fig. 2.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a ring 1 of suitable size to be worn on the forefinger of the left-hand. Attached to one side of the ring and arranged obliquely with respect thereto is a tubular casing 2, the outer end of which is flattened and broadened as at 3 and provided with a slot 4:. A blade 5 is arranged for longitudinal movement in the casing and is adapted to be projected out through the slot and beyond the outer end of the casing. At the inner end of the blade is a plunger 5 which is movable longitudinally in the tubular casing, a stem 6 also projecting from the inner end of the blade and being provided with a head 7 which may be readily pressed against the palm of the hand, by a movement of the forefinger, to cause the blade to be projected for use in cutting the piece of twine, thread or the like. A collar 8 is fitted in the inner end of the tubular casing and the stem is slidable through the collar. A coiled retractile spring 10 is arranged on the stem and bears between the collar and the head and serves to normally hold the blade in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 2, and as will be understood.

My improved twine cutter is extremely cheap and simple, is compact, may be worn on the forefinger of the left-hand without interfering with the use of the hand in tying and securing packages, is safe and the blade thereof may be readily projected for use.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of my invention, I would i havingits other end disposed within and movable through said slot, a plug closing the other end of said casing and provided with a central hole, a stem extending through said hole and connected with said head, a button on the outer end of said stein engageable by the thumb of the operators hand whereby to project said blade beyond said casing, and a coil spring surrounding said stem and having one end abutting against said button and its otherend abutting against said plug.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CARL EDWARD I-IEMPEL.

slidably engaging the interior thereof and r 

